Table leg hinge and latch mechanism



y 1956 w. SHEPHERDSON 2,753,235

TABLE LEG HINGE AND LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 22, 1955 j INVENTOR. 1 WILLIAM L. SHEPHERDS IV 36/ (37 I BY MMQ AW ATTORNEY.

TABLE LEG HINGE AND LATCH MECHANISM William L. Shepherdson, Phoenix, Ariz., assignor of sixty-six and two-thirds per cent to J. E. Meachans, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application September 22, 1955*, Serial No. 535,787

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-99) This invention pertains to improvements in collapsible legs for tables or other furniture elements and is particularly directed to an improved hinge and lock mechanism.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved hinge for folding table leg which is extremely rigid when in opened supporting position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved table leg hinge and lock mechanism which is automatic in latching into rigid supporting position when the leg is swung open to normal support location.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a latch member in conjunction with a folding hinge for col lapsible leg for table which automatically swings in a different direction from the leg to lock the leg in open position in a rigid strong manner.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. l is an underside perspective view of the table leg hinge and lock mechanism incorporating the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view, fragmentary section, indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown the main support plate indicated generally at it having an integral top 11 and the downwardly extending side flanges 12 and 13. A hinge pin 14 is supported in a bore 15 formed in the side flange 13 and supported in a bore 16 in the downwardly turned lug 17 of the top 11 of the main support 10. A suitable table top 18 having the side rails 19 may be appropriately secured to the main support plate by suitable screws 20 passing through the side flanges 12 and 13 as required.

A leg supporting bracket 21 carries the leg 22 which is secured to it by suitable screws 23, the bracket 21 having lug Z4 journaled on the hinge pin 14 and having the locking hinge flange 25 provided with a bore 26 journaled on the other end of the pin 14 so that the leg swings about the axis 27 in the direction indicated by the arrow 28 shown in Fig. 2. A stop lug 21a formed integral with the bracket 21 has an abutment surface 21b which engages the underside of the top 11 of the main support to provide a postiive accurate stop for swung open position i of the leg 22.

A latch plate 29 is hingedly connected through the hinge pin 30 to the locking hinge flange of the leg support bracket 21 so as to swing around the axis 31 which is at right angles to the axis 27 of swinging of the leg 22 and bracket 21, and is arranged vertically relative to the position of the table leg when in open position. A suitable circular spring 32 surrounding the hinge pin 30 is arranged to normally swing the latch plate 29 outwardly in the direction indicated by the spring 32 and arrows 33 in Fig. 3 away from the leg support bracket 21. It will be noted that as the latch plate member 29 swings to its normally outward position under the influence of the nited States Patent i spring 32 that the upwardly facing horizontal abutment surface 34 thereof engages the under side of the abutment surface 35 formed on the under side of the top 11 of the main support plate so as to rigidly force the leg 22 and leg support bracket 21 to exact vertical opened position as that shown in Fig. 1. At the same time a pin 36 fixed in the latch plate 29 enters and closely fits into a bore 37 formed in the side flange 13 of the main support plate 1h so as to lock out any relative swinging movement of the member 21 relative to the main support plate 10 when the leg 22 is swung to opened out support position.

There is also provided an additional locking piece 38 pivotally mounted on a pin 39 fixed in the side flange 13 of the main support plate 10. This locking piece 38 may be moved from unlocked position 38a to locked position 3812 shown best in Fig. 2 so as to bring its latching lug ll over the outer face of the latch plate 29 so as to se curely hold it in opened out position shown in Fig. 3.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United tates Letters Patent is:

1. In a table leg hinge and lock mechanism, a main support plate, a leg supporting bracket pivotally mounted to swing about a horizontal axis on said main support plate, a stop lug on said bracket adapted to engage said main support plate to limit outward swinging movement of said bracket to an accurate predetermined position, a latch plate pivotally hinged to said leg support bracket for swinging about a vertical axis at right angles to the horizontal axis of said leg support bracket, resilient means for normally swinging said latch plate away from said leg support bracket, an upwardly facing horizontal abutment surface on said latch plate adapted to engage the under side of said main support plate, and pin means in said latch plate adapted to engage a positioning bore in said main support plate when said latch plate is nor mally swung to open lock position.

2. In a table leg hinge and lock mechanism, a main support plate, a leg supporting bracket pivotally mounted to swing about a horizontal axis on said main support plate, a stop lug on said bracket adapted to engage said main support plate to limit outward swinging movement of said bracket to an accurate predetermined position, a latch plate pivotally hinged to said leg support bracket for swinging about a vertical axis at right angles to the horizontal axis of said leg support bracket, resilient means for normally swinging said latch plate away from said leg support bracket, an upwardly facing horizontal abutment surface on said latch plate adapted to engage the under side of said main support plate, pin means in said latch plate adapted to engage a positioning bore in said main support plate when said latch plate is normally swung to open lock position, and a locking piece pivotally mounted on said main support plate having a latching lug adapted to engage said latch plate to hold said latch plate in open swung position in abutment contact with said main support plate.

3. A table leg hinge and lock mechanism including, a main support plate having a top, and side flanges vertically disposed at right angles to one another, a hinge pin supported in one of said side flanges and in a lug formed integral with said top portion of said main support plate, a leg support bracket pivotally mounted on said horizontally disposed hinge pin, a stop lug on said bracket adapted to engage said main support plate to limit outward swinging movement of said bracket to an accurate predetermined position, a table leg secured to said leg supporting bracket, a latch plate hinged for swinging about a vertically dis-posed axis on said leg supporting bracket, spring means for normally swinging said latch plate away from said leg support bracket into engagement with one of said side flanges of said main support plate, an abutment surface on the outer end of said latch plate engaging the under side of the top of said main support plate, and

means for locking said outer end of said latch plate rigidly to said side flange when said latch plate is swung to outward position.

4. A table leg hinge and lock mechanism including, a main support plate having a top, and side flanges vertically disposed at right angles to one another, a hinge pin supported in one of said side flanges and in a lug formed integral with said top portion of said main support plate, a leg support bracket pivotally mounted on said horizontally disposed hinge pin, a stop lug on said bracket adapted to engage said main support plate to limit outward swinging movement of said bracket to an accurate predetermined position, a table leg secured to said leg support ing bracket, a latch plate hinged for swinging about a vertically disposed axis on said leg supporting bracket, spring means for normally swinging said latch plate away from said leg support bracket into engagement with one of said side flanges of said main support plate, an abutment surface on the outer end of said latch plate engaging the under side of the top of said main support plate, means for locking said outer end of said latch plate rigidly to said side flange when said latch plate is swung to outward position, and a locking piece pivotally mounted on said side flange engaged by said latch plate having lug means to secure said latch plate in engaged position with the side flange of said main support engaged thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,871,634 Tingle Aug. 16, 1932 1,879,945 OConner Sept. 27, 1932 1,950,966 Boenning Mar. 13, 1934 2,214,301 Hendricks Sept. 10, 1940 2,385,717 Mayer Sept. 25, 1945 2,479,492 Hayden Aug. 16, 1949 2,653,066 Anderson Sept. 22, 1953 

